Work holder



W. E. SHULTZ May 3, 1966 WORK HOLDER Filed Sept. 5, 1965 a W 6 2, 7 2 l 2 United States Patent 3,249,350 WORK HOLDER William E. Shultz, 239 N. Main St., Lombard, Ill. Filed Sept. 3, 1963, Ser. No. 305,941 2 Claims. (Cl. 269-47) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in work holders.

More particularly, the present invention pertains to a holder for supporting carburetor throttle body units as well as other articles having marginal flanges provided with bolt receiving openings while said unit or other article of work is undergoing repair.

It is a principal object of this invention to provide a device of this type wherein an article of work such, for example, as a carburetor unit undergoing repair may be held in a fixed pendulous posit-ion and yet having the work holder arranged along a line at any selected rotated position about a fixed axis extending axially of the work holder so as to facilitate access to the' article of Work undergoing repair while mounted on the work holder.

It is also an object to provide a work holder of the character indicated which will accommodate articles of work of varying dimension such for example as two barrel and four barrel carburetor units as well as single barrel carburetor units.

Another object resides in providing a holder which is simple and economical in construction and design so that it can be manufactured and placed on the market at a.

minimum of cost, and which at the same time is strong and durable so as to be especially adapted for use by mechanics engaged in repair work on carburetor units as well as other articles of work.

A specific construction embodying the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a work holder in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an end view'thereof with a portion in dotted line to indicate the relationship of a carburetor unit when operatively associated therewith.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a reduced perspective view showing the work holder in clamped relation to a conventional vise.

As illustrated in the drawings, a work holder embodying the present invention includes a frame member of bar stock appropriately bent into the form of a yoke to provide a pair of arms, each duplicating the other, and a midsection 12 from which said arms and 11 branch forwardly along symmetrically spaced apart lines and thereby define a clearway between said arms. The midsection 12 is provided with a central bore 13 leading to said clearway along a line symmetrically straddled by said arms 10 and 11 of the frame member. The bore 13 provides a journal in which the reduced front end portion 14 of a shaft 15 is rotatably mounted. The front end portion 14 of the shaft 15 joins the rearward portion of the shaft to form a shoulder 16. The surface of the midsection 12 surrounding the bore 13 has rearward facing engagement with said shoulder 16 via a thrust washer 1'7 interposed between said shoulder and said midsection 12. A nut 18 threaded on the end portion 14 of the shaft 15 projecting forwardly of said midsection 12 of the frame member in cooperation with the washer 17 provide fixed stops between which the frame member is secured to move in fixed axial relation to the shaft 15 while permitting the shaft to turn about its own axis relative to said frame member. Reference numeral 19 indicates a lock nut with which the nut 18 has forward engagement to prevent accidental withdrawal of the nut 18 from a secured position at the front end 14 of the shaft 15.

3,249,351 Patented May 3, 1966 The shaft 15 includes an externally threaded portion 20 which extends rearwardly from the shoulder 16 which has threaded engagement with an internally threaded spool 21. Thus rotation of the shaft 15 in the spool 21 is effective to advance and retract the arms 10 and 11 of the frame member relative to the spool 21 along a line defined by the axis of the shaft 15.

A pair of auxiliary arms 22 have pivotal support, one on each of the arms 10 and 11 of the frame member, for swinging movement relative to said arms 10 and 11 in a fixed path in outwardly spaced. parallel relation to a plane containing the axis of the shaft 15 and bridging the clearway between said arms 10 and 11 of the frame member. Such pivotal movement of the arms 22 relative to the arms 10 and 11 of the frame member is established via pivot pins 23 penetrating the arms 22 and a portion of the arms 10 and 11 overlapped by said arms 22 and a link 25 connected to each of said arms 22 via pivot pins 24 and connected to a forward end portion 26 of the spool 21 via pivot pins 27. The links 25 provide an interconnection between the spool 21 and the arms 22 effective to conjointly swing said arms 22 toward and away from the clearway between the arms 10 and 11 of the frame member under control of rotation of the shaft 15 which through the threaded connection between the shaft 15 and the spool 21 operates to advance and retract the arms 10 and 11 relative to the spool 21. Each of the arms 22 is equipped with a bolt providing a spindle 28 in outwardly projecting relation to the arms 22 along lines perpendicular to the path in which the arms 22 have swinging movement incident to rotation of the shaft 15. As a consequence, the spindles 28 associated with the auxiliary arms 22 occupy positions at selected distances apart as de termined by the range of movement of the arms 22 about the pivot pins 23 in response to rotation of the shaft 15 to advance or retract the arms 10 and 11 of the frame member.

Torquefor turning the shaft 15 toadvance and retract the arms 10 and 11 of the frame member and thereby adjust the positions of the spindles 28 incident to mounting an article of work on the spindles, such, for example as a carburetor unit, is applied manually via a tubular handle 29 fixed to and enclosing the rearward end portion of the shaft 15. It will be observed from the drawings that the handle 29 has a reduced forward end portion 30 of cylindrical contour concentric with the axis of the shaft 15 so as to have bearing engagement with the inner surface of a socket 31 forming a rearward extension of the spool 21 and overlapping said front portion 30 of the handle 29.

In the operation of the present work holder as applied to an article of work such as a carburetor, the throttle body 31 of a carburetor unit is secured in fixed relation on the holder by adjusting the positions of the spindles 28 at such distance apart as to register with the bolt attaching openings 33 usually provided in the base flange 34 of the throttlebody 31 of the carburetor unit so as to permit the spindles 28 to project through said openings 33. The threads of .the spindles 28 which project through said openings 33 may, if so desired by the operator, be engaged by suitable nuts to prevent withdrawal of the throttle body 31 from a mounted poistion on the holder. However, by turning the handle 29 in a direction bringing the spindles 28 closer together relative to the position of said spindles when initially entering the openings 33 in the throttle body flange 34, the threads on the spindles 28 will so firmly grip the surface of the openings 33 in the throttle body 31 as to positively lock the work against unintentional withdrawal from the spindles 28 without the use of such nuts on the threads of the spindles.

While the carburetor unit or other article of work is acea cordingly mounted in clamped relation to the arms and 11 of the frame member of the work holder via the spindles 28, the holder may be anchored in fixed position by clamping the spool 21 in a suitable anchoring device such as a collar 35 in-which the spool 21 is rigidly secured in selected rotated position under control of a suitable tightening member 36. A bracket 37 on which the collar 35 is fixed is adapted to be held between-the jaws of a conventional vise 38 mounted on a fixed supporting surface such as the top of a bench 39, as shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings.

Reference numeral 40 designates matching auxiliary arms which have pivotal support, one on each of the arms 10 and 11, via the pivot pins 23 which also provide pivotal support for the auxiliary arms 22 whereby the auxiliary arms 40 have swinging movement relative to the arms 11) and 11 of the frame member of the work holder in a path in outwardly spaced parallel relation to a plane containing the axis of the shaft and bridging the distance between the arms 10 and 11 of the frame member and opposite the side of said arms 10 and 11 facing the auxiliary arms 22. Links 41 corresponding to links 25 are connected to each auxiliary arm 40 via the pivot pins 24 and are connected'to the forward end portion 26 of the spool 21 via the pivot pins 27. Thus the links 41' actconjointly with the links 25 in simultaneously effecting corresponding swinging movement of the auxiliary arms 40 and arms 22 in response to advancing and retracting movement of the arms 10 and 11 of the frame member via rotation of the shaft 15. Spindles 42, defined by bolts projecting from the auxiliary arms 40 in a direction away from the auxiliary arms 22 correspond to the spindles 28 associated with the auxilary arms 22 but occupy positions relative to the arms 40 at such variance to the position occupied by the spindles 28 in relation to the auxiliary arms 22 as to provide for a shorter distance of spacing between the spindles 42 than the spacing between the spindles 28 in all positions of adjustment of the arms 22 and arms 40. The spindles 42 and 28 may also be of other varying characteristic such for example from the standpoint of dimension measured lengthwise of the path of movement of the auxiliary arms 22 and 40 as well as measured lengthwise of the axis of the spindles. Such an arrangement of the spindles on opposite sides of the work holder makes possible alternate use of such spindles according to the specific dimensions and styles of carburetor units or other articles of work to be mounted on the holder. For example, the spindles 42 are adapted for operation in a range applicable to carburetor units of the four barrel and two barrel types while the spindles 28 afford a range applicable to carburetor units of the single barrel type.

It will be noted that the links 25 and 41 have sliding engagement with the surfaces of the front end of the spool 21 and the surfaces of the auxiliary arms 22 and 40 overlapped thereby. This condition together with the fact that the links 25 and 41 are of such size and dimension relative to the corresponding dimension of the arms 22 and 40 as to function as struts effectively resisting forces which tend to bend the arms 22 and 40 as applied by the load imposed by the article of work supported on the spindles of the holder.

Itwill be understood from the foregoing rather explicit disclosure that the improved work holder forming the subject of this invention may with advantage be utilized for purposes other than for the repair of carburetor units. For example, gear casings, valve housings and many other similar assemblies employing bolt receiving openings might be suitably held in a work holder incorporating the essential features of this invention.

It will also be obvious that numerous changes may be made in the form, construction and-arrangement of the several parts of the holder forming the subject of this invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its attendant advantages, the form herein disclosed being a preferred embodiment for the purpose of illustrating the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A work holder including a frame defined. by first and second duplicate mainarrns and a midsection from which said main arms branch symmetrically forwardly at a distance apart to form a clearway between said main arms, a central bore in-said midsection leading to said clearway, a first pair of duplicate auxiliary arms having common pivotal connection with said first main arm for swinging movement relative to said first mainarm in fixed parallel paths in straddling relation to said first main arm toward and away from said second main arm, a second pair of duplicate auxiliary arms having common pivotal connection with said second main arm for swinging movement relative to said second main arm in fixed parallel paths in straddling relation to said second main arm toward and away from said first main arm and in alignment with the path of swinging movement of said first pair of auxiliary arms, a shaft having a portion thereof journalled in said bore, means establishing the position of the shaft in fixed axial relation to said bore, an internally threaded spool,'threads on a portion of said shaft located rearwardly of said bore with which the threads of the spool have threaded engagement to effect movement of said frame toward and away from said spool in response to rotation of said shaftrelative to said spool, means linking said auxiliary arms to said spool to collectively swing said auxiliary arms on the :first main arm and said auxiliary arms on the second main arm toward and away from said clearway, said first pair of swinging movement, said first spindles on said first and second pairs of auxiliary arms occupying positions at a uniform fixed distance radially from the axis on which said first and second pairs of auxiliary arms respectively have swinging movement, said second spindles on said first and second pairs of auxiliary arms occupying positions at a greater uniform fixed distance radially from the axis on which said" first and second pairs of auxiliary arms respectively have swinging movement, and a handle fixed on said shaft rearwardly of said spool for rotating the shaft relative to said spool and thereby effecting movement of said first and second pairs of auxiliary arms toward and away from said clearway.

2. A work holder according to claim 1 wherein each of said spindles is defined by a threaded bolt.

References (liter! by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 767,403 8/1904 Glover et a1 81-90 774,563 11/1904 Clark 269-218 1,075,384 10/1913 Seidel 269l56 1,667,332 4/1928 Stahler 269'228 X 2,586,636 2/1952 Fischer et al. 269--4 FOREIGN PATENTS' 8,365 1905 Great Britain. 423,436 1/1935 Great Britain.

ROBERT C. RIORDON, Primary Examiner.

R. J. BUBNZLE, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A WORK HOLDER INCLUDING A FRAME DEFINED BY FIRST AND SECOND DUPLICATE MAIN ARMS AND A MIDSECTION FROM WHICH SAID MAIN ARMS BRANCH SYMMETRICALLY FORWARDLY AT A DISTANCE APART TO FORM A CLEARWAY BETWEEN SAID MAIN ARMS, A CENTRAL BORE IN SAID MIDSECTION LEADING TO SAID CLEARWAY, A FIRST PAIR OF DUPLICATE AUXILIARY ARMS HAVING COMMON PIVOTAL CONNECTION WITH SAID FIRST MAIN ARM FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID FIRST MAIN ARM IN FIXED PARALLEL PATHS IN STRADDLING RELATION TO SAID FIRST MAIN ARM TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID SECOND ARM, A SECOND PAIR OF DUPLICATE AUXILIARY ARMS HAVING COMMON PIVOTAL CONNECTION WITH SAID SECOND MAIN ARM FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID SECOND MAIN ARM IN FIXED PARALLEL PATHS IN STRADDLING RELATION TO SAID SECOND MAIN ARM TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID FIRST MAIN ARM AND IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE PATH OF SWINGING MOVEMENT OF SAID FIRST PAIR OF AUXILIARY ARMS, A SHAFT HAVING A PORTION THEREOF JOURNALLED IN SAID BORE, MEANS ESTABLISHING THE POSITION OF THE SHAFT IN FIXED AXIAL RELATION TO SAID BORE, AN INTERNALLY THREADED SPOOL, THREADS ON A PORTION OF SAID SHAFT LOCATED REARWARDLY OF SAID BORE WITH WHICH THE THREADS OF THE SPOOL HAVE THREADED ENGAGEMENT TO EFFECT MOVEMENT OF SAID FRAME TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID SPOOL IN RESPONSE TO ROTATION OF SAID SHAFT RELATIVE TO SAID SPOOL, MEANS LINKING SAID AUXILIARY ARMS TO SAID SPOOL TO COLLECTIVELY SWING SAID AUXILIARY ARMS ON THE FIRST MAIN ARM AND SAID AUXILIARY ARMS ON THE SECOND MAIN ARM TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID CLEARWAY, SAID FIRST PAIR OF AUXILIARY ARMS HAVING FIRST AND SECOND WORK ENGAGING SPINDLES RESPECTIVELY EXTENDING THEREFROM IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS AWAY FROM THE AREA BETWEEN THE FIRST PAIR OF AUXILIARY ARMS ALONG THE LINES PARALLELING THE AXIS ON WHICH SAID FIRST PAIR OF AUXILIARY ARMS HAVE SWINGING MOVEMENT, SAID SECOND PAIR OF AUXILIARY ARMS HAVING FIRST AND SECOND WORK ENGAGING SPINDLES RESPECTIVELY EXTENDING THEREFROM IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS AWAY FROM THE AREA BETWEEN THE SECOND PAIR OF AUXILIARY ARMS ALONG LINES PARALLELING THE AXIS ON WHICH SAID SECOND PAIR OF AUXILIARY ARMS HAVE SWINGING MOVEMENT, SAID FIRST SPINDLES ON SAID FIRST AND SECOND PAIRS OF AUXILIARY ARMS OCCUPYING POSITIONS AT A UNIFORM FIXED DISTANCE RADIALLY FROM THE AXIS ON WHICH SAID FIRST AND SECOND PAIRS OF AUXILIARY ARMS RESPECTIVELY HAVE SWINGING MOVEMENT, SAID SECOND SPINDLES ON SAID FIRST AND SECOND PAIRS OF AUXILIARY ARMS OCCUPYING POSITIONS AT A GREATER UNIFORM FIXED DISTANCE RADIALLY FROM THE AXIS ON WHICH SAID FIRST AND SECOND PAIRS OF AUXILIARY ARMS RESPECTIVELY HAVE SWINGING MOVEMENT, AND A HANDLE FIXED ON SAID SHAFT REARWARDLY OF SAID SPOOL FOR ROTATING THE SHAFT RELATIVE TO SAID SPOOL AND THEREBY EFFECTING MOVEMENT OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND PAIRS OF AUXILIARY ARMS TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID CLEARWAY. 